Dry battery



Sept 2@, 1 0. E. RUHQFF ET AL DRY BATTERY Filed April 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [five/72%??? {Z820 282888716 5 7 Sept. 20, 1932.- o. E. RUHOFF ET AL DRY BATTERY Filed April 14, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fizyenz ons, oizazij fioffy l 0275/ like/W03 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 I r r 1 r UNHTED STATES PATENT I OFFICE OTTO E. RU HOFF AND EDGAR J. McEACI-IRoN, WAUSAIL- WISCoN I l 'DnYBATTn tY 7 Application filed. Apri1'14, 1926. Serial 1Y0. 101,945.:

This invention relates particularly to "an "It is preferred to apply to the inner surface improved method of constructing dry-batterof the bottom I of the bo x A a thick'coa'ting of ies of the upright type adapted for radio melted asphaltum, or pitch, 2, and tothen purposes, the dry-cells being horizon'tallydis- Insert the egg-crate structure A into the box.

5 posed in the battery-assembly. The egg-crate structure is pressed down lnto 55 The primary object is to provide a method the box so that the lower edges of thepastee of producing a staunch and durable battery boardstrips which form the structure become which can be manufactured at moderate cost. imbedded in'the seal 2, thus making liquid- The invention is illustrated in its preferred tight joints. The egg-cratestructure may it- 7 l embodiment in the accompanying drawings, self be impregnated withparaliinl, or thelike, 6 in which--- 4 v if desired. 3

Fig. 1 represents a perspectiveview of an The dry-cells B commonly (but'not necesinner pasteboard box fitted with a cellular sarily) are of the flashlight type, employing structure dividing the box into cell-comparta zinc-cup container 3 as the negative pole v ments, this viewshowing someof the comand a'central carbon t as the positive pole. 5 partments containing cells; Fig.2, a broken Carbon poles are equipped with brass caps perspective view illustrating the manner-in 4 The cells may: be connected in series, or which the inner assembly slips into an outer otherwise, by means of wires 5. j pasteboard container, or casing; Fig. 3, a At one end ofthe series,the carbon pole broken perspective view showing the top p01- of' the cell is provided with aterminal; 6 70 tion of the battery; Fig.4, a broken transwhich may beconnectedin the manner'shown verse vertical sectional view taken as indiin Fig.4. At the'other end of the series, the cated at line 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a similar view zinc cup has connected therewith .a terminal taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 7 which may be applied in the manner'shown g 6, a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a in Fig. 5 At an intermediate point,atermi- 75 slight modification. nal8 may be connected with a zinc cupof In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1-5 the cell. 1 7 inclusive, A designates an inner pasteboard In making the assembly, the dry-cells are box which is open at one of its broadsides introduced into the box A in thenianner and which is fitted with an egg-crate pasteillustrated in Fig. 1. In the figure just re- 0 board structure A which divides thebox into ferred to, one end wall 9 of the box is shown compartments; B, a series ofdry-c'ells withremoved. This wall is provided with perfo in the compartments mentioned which have ration lothrongh which theterminals 6,7 their carbon poles presented to the "open side d 8 ma t d It 111 be d r t d P the d 7 anputer contalnehor that the terminals just mentioned are attached 3 for Feceivmg the 1111161 yT b" tocellsv ofthetopmost rowQY A l Y e casmg k p t one dd P 7 The end wall 9 of thelboxAmay be severed Vlded wlt'h a 010811176 C, fer h Open from the box to enable the terminal rods to The i i i be assembled m the m g be passed through-the perforations 10, after 1? 40 1 353 5 t Inner i g i i which the nuts 11 of-the terminal rods may a @1118 F mg 6 S1 be applied to hold theend wall-9 in position. at th1s time forms the bottom of the box. 0 t1 H t b H After the assembly of the cells within the gisg j y igg g t gg g a mner the latter 1S shpped endwlse molten pitch, or the like, is poured intothe 3 through the-open end of the outer container r g C, and the closure C is then applied. When Open slde of h A, filllng t bQ above.

the container is in the upright position in the cells and'runmng lnto P iQ which it'is intended to be used, the cells are qmp tm t P :Pm l Y embe horizontally disposed,and the closure 0 condrug t e ce s w n' he co par ments." It stitutes the top of the battery." is preferred to have this sealing compound lill'BStIlPS' 17' which connects the terminal 6 the assembly is introduced endwise through the open end of the outer box, or casing, C. In Fig; 2, the battery-assembly is. shown not fully ihtrodu ced into the outercasing, and it will be understood that the end wall 9 of the inner box has been removed for purpose of illustration;v In practice, if desired, the endwall 9of the inner box may be discarded after the sealing compound has been intro-- duced and has become hardened, M

After the battery-assembl has been introduced withinthe outer container C, reinforcingstrips 13, which may be of woiod,;are. placed above. the wall 9, which now constitutes the topwall; of theinner pasteboard box A. The closure G is then. applied; Thisclosurepreferably comprises. a pasteboard strip 14 having pasted to. its outer surface a. paper covering 145* provided with marginal flaps 14! which.extenddownwardly over the upper margin oftheupri'ght container C. and:pasted, or cemented, thereto. r I It. willbe. understood thatin Fig. 4, for example,.the battery has been laid on its side. sothat. the top ofthe battery istoward the leftrhandlsid'e of the. figure, The sealing compound 12,.therefore,forms one vertical wall ofthe. innerbattery-assembly- The terminals 6; Tend 8 extend through perforations 15. with which; the closure of. the outer container isprovi deds Washers 16 are applied outside. of" the. closure,,.and it willbe understood". that conductors. may be connected: by cl'am'pingthem. betweemthewashers 16 and the nuts 11., f

The. terminal rod. 6 has its base endsol deredt'o a brassest'ri p 17' which extends along the zinc cup 3 of'the cell, but which is sepa rated from the zinc cup by a pasteboard strip 181. One endlportion of the strip717 is bent over the end of the cell, as indicated at 17 7 and soldered'zto the brass caps" of the carbon V assembly;

pole 4. The brass strip 17 preferably is secured to the body of the cell by means of tapes IQ bef'ore the cell is introduced into the The terminals 7 and 8' are connected: with the zinc cups of the respective cells by soldering'theirbaseportions to the cups,'as indi.- catedat-20 inFig. 5. It'will benoted that the carhonpole. atone end of the cellser'ies is embedded in'thepitch c'ompound1'2. I he connections 5 between the cells are likewise embedded: in the sealing" compound;

. Itl isepreferred to. equiptheter-minals with nuts: 2-1. which serve as bearing 7 for the lower side of the pasteboard-box 14 of. the

, closure.

In, the. modification. shown. 6,'the constructionis similar to the construction already described, and corresponding parts are correspondingly lettered. In this modification, however, the sealing compound, designated 12, does not come quite flush with the free edges of the flanges of the inner box A.

To fill out the box, a pasteboard plate 22 is. introduced. Also, the closure, designated 0', is of modified constr-uction. .In this case, the closure comprises an outer pasteboard piece 23 which bears upon the upper edge of thecasin'g GL; 'andath-ickpiece ofpasteboard 23 which is cemented to the inner side of the' pasteboard piece 23, as indicated at 23*. The heavy reinforcing pasteboard piece 23*" fits snugly within the upper end of the casing G and rests. uponthe fillets 13 if. the latter be used Thus, it willbeunderstood that in this construction. the closureG is held inpositionby means. oftheterminals with which the battery is provided. Ifdesired, a suitable 1' pasta, or. glue, may be introduced about. the edges-of the closure so that. after the closure.

is applied', it will. be bonded to the upper margin of the. box, or casing, C

- It has been found, inpraotice, that the im proved construction is admirably adapted for use'in situations-where a radiobattery is to bev placed in upright position. Frequently, the space within cabinets provided for radio purposes islimited. Hence, there is a large demand for batteries which, whilev thev cells may. be. horizontally disposed, have their terminals extending throughthe top wall of thecasing.

, It will be noted, with reference to the improvedstructure, that each cell is' securely housed and sealed within a compartment, so that the battery is not liable to be injured byoozingof electrolyte. The use, of. asealing compoundinthe upper endof the other I? craterstructuremaybe introduced into the box and the assembly proceeded-With as above described. In this case, the end wall 9 of the box will remain integral with the body of'thebox A.-- V V 1 Referring again to'the end wall 9. of the inner container shownjin Figs. 1 and 2, it

maybe stated that instead of applying nuts to holdthe endlwall in position, the box A may be held" within clamps upon a suitable table. In practice, a number of inner assemblies may be'arranged-inseries on a table I held by suitable clamps while the sealingcompound is poured in.

Also, it is unnecessary to use the end wall 9 of the inner box in the final assembly of the battery. Likewise, the fillets '13 may be omitted, if desired. For example, in Fig. 6, the length of the outer casing C may be shorting, applying a closure to said casing which is provided with perforations through which said terminals extend, and applying nuts to said terminals outside said closure.

OTTO E. RUHOFF. EDGAR J.MoEACI-IRON.

ened, and the pasteboard piece 23 may con- V tact, or substantially contact, with the adja-' 10 'cent end of the inner assembly shown in Fig.

2, both the end Wall 9 and the fillet-strips 13 being omitted. In such case, or in any case, if desired, a layer of molten asphalt 24 may be poured into the bottom of the casing C before the inner battery assembly is slid into the casing. Thus, it will be understood by reference to Fig. 2 that when the box A and its contents are forced into the container C, the lower end of the box A will become embedded in the melted asphalt and so will be firmly joined to the bottom wall of the casing C. The asphalt layer 24 may be of sufficient depth so that the other end of the inner assembly will substantially contact with the closure G when it is applied.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What we regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The method ofconstructing a dry-battery which comprises: coating the inner side of the bottom of a pasteboard box with a sticky compound, introducing a pasteboard egg-crate structure into said box and forcing bled batterv described endwise into an openended casing, and applying a closure to said casing which is provided with perforations through which said terminals extend.

2. The method of constructing a dry-battery which comprises providing a pasteboard box having an open side with compartments, introducing cells into said compartments, some of the cells of a marginal row having terminals projecting laterally from the sides of the cells, connecting the cells in series, 7

introducing a sealing compound into the open side of the box to form a common seal covermg and embedding said cells and connections,

introducing the assembled battery thus described endwise into an open-ended outer cas- 

